Dried Orange Ornaments

Scented with cinnamon and citrus, these easy dried orange ornaments add the perfect natural and cozy touch to your winter home décor!

There is something about the bright orange color and and the blend of cinnamon and citrus that brings in that cozy wintery feeling. It is the contrast of sweet and spicy, soft and rough, natural and simple that draws you in. Dried orange ornaments can be woven throughout your winter décor and not just for the holidays. Although I do use these ornaments on our Christmas tree, I usually find them a home among the greenery pieces I have for the long weeks after the holidays. My way to bring a little bit of festive cheer and calm nature in from the cold winter months

For years, I thought about making these ornaments but never took the time. Making orange ornaments are so simple and take just a little bit of patience. The look and feel of the ornaments are worth the small amount of effort. It is a unique way to incorporate a little bit of character and naturalness into your home. Plus the scent of citrus mingling into the air as these ornaments gently bake is so inviting and calming. Little acts, such as making homemade ornaments and décor may seem a bit unnecessary with all of the store bought options. Yet, picking just one or two handmade simple items to incorporate in your home makes all the difference in creating a warm and cozy space.

Extra Magic to Dried Orange Ornaments

These dried orange slices have a perfect scent all their own, but to enhance and extend the citrus scent I use a few drops of cinnamon essential oil. This step is completely optional, but I have found it add a little something extra to the orange slice ornaments. I use this cinnamon essential oil for it's quality and ability to be used in food. The cinnamon scent is gentle enough not to overpower but is more of a sweet and spicy reminder of the holidays. Feel free to add a few cinnamon sticks tied together as ornaments, as well if you are placing them on a tree for a bit of added natural inspired magic.

Cozy Tips

• When picking an orange, try to select a round and firm orange with a porous peel instead of soft or think peel. This allows for a nice contrast on the orange slice and hands nicely. (A quick disclaimer, at times we may not be able to find the perfect orange in the stores, but still use what you have. The oranges I used were not exactly perfect.)
• Pick any sort of string or twine to fit in with the rest of your home décor. Here is a great natural option or if you want a bit more of a festive string I have used this one, as well.
• Adding an essential oil to the slices once they are out of the oven enhances the scent. This is the cinnamon essential oil I used along with Christmas Spirit essential oil.
• You can string the dried slices on twine or ribbon or string as garland or use as ornaments as I do.
• The dried orange slices can even be used as decorations through out your home and used for the weeks after the holidays.
• If you are needing an extra special handmade touch on gift wrap you can tie on an orange slice with a but of ribbon or and some greenery.
• Feel free to include the whole family and kids for this fun ornament making process!
• The orange slices once dried will typically last for about 3-4 weeks.
• You can use the scraps as a simmer pot mix or with some cranberries, rosemary, cinnamon sticks to gift or use in your home.

Supplies for Dried Orange Ornaments

• Oranges
• String, Ribbon, Or Twine
• Cinnamon Essential Oil
• Parchment Paper
• Baking Sheet
• Scissors

The Cozy Details

Step 1: Gather all of your supplies. Preheat the oven to 200 degrees Fahrenheit. Slice the oranges about ¼ inch thick. You don't want the slices to be too thin or they will break. And you do not want them to be too thick or they will not dry properly.

Step 2: Lay out a sheet of parchment paper onto a baking sheet. Next, arrange the orange slices as a single layer on the parchment paper. Depending on how many slices you wish to make, you may need two baking sheets or do this process more than once. This is a great stage to involve little hands!

Step 3: Then pat the slices dry gently with a paper towel or dish cloth. Place the baking trays in the oven for about 4-6 hours. Once out of the oven add a drop or two of cinnamon essential oil. Allow the oil to dry for a few minutes. If you do use the essential oil, take care to wash your hands if you touch the orange slice when the oil is not yet dry.

Step 4: Cut string, ribbon, or twine into pieces about a few inches long.

Step 5: String the orange slices through the ribbon or twine and tie the ends. After you have the string together you can hang the slices onto a Christmas tree, garland or anywhere else you would like. You can make them as rustic or detailed as you would like. I prefer a natural handmade look with twine.

For an extra special touch, take few large cinnamon sticks and tie them together with string to hang along side the dried orange slices or snuggle them inside between the branches.

A Few More Cozy Thoughts

Since you have the dried slices and cinnamon sticks out, you can make small festive bundles. To do so, take dried orange slice and a cinnamon stick and stack them on each other at an angle. Next, place either a real or faux sprig of rosemary or spruce with perhaps a twig of berries and tie together with string. This makes a sweet addition on top of any present or around the neck of a bottle of wine as a gift.

The little dried orange slice bundles can even be used among you décor or kitchen. I placed mine next to my lantern oil diffuser.

Next, you can throw the scrapes of the oranges into a pot with some fresh cranberries and cinnamon sticks. Fill the pot with some water and set it to simmer on the stove. This simmer pot of sweet and citrus will fill your home with a warm and cozy scent!

Making a home cozy and festive doesn't have to mean spending a great deal of time shopping for picture perfect décor pieces and elaborate design plans. Your home doesn't have to be big or a certain style to add joy within. All your home needs are a few small thoughtful, handmade pieces scattered throughout. Little pieces that say you value the season. Taking something ordinary and transforming it into something special. Simple and easy traditions to carry you through the long cold months. To me, this is what makes the winter home warm and inviting. Sweet citrus and spicy cinnamon air and handmade pieces throughout the room.

Where will you place you dried orange slice ornaments this year?